Sarcastic

Related words


Bible references

Jesus' example

  • Jesus asked the scribes and Pharisees, who prided themselves on being biblical scholars, if they had not read the scriptures.

    • Matthew 12:3 - Had they not read about David eating the shew bread?

    • Matthew 12:5 - had they not read that the priests work on the Sabbath?

    • Matthew 19:4-6 - Had they not read that God create people male and female nd joined the two to become one so that they should not be separated?

    • Matthew 21:16 - had they not read that children and infants would give praise?

    • Matthew 21:42 - Had they not read that the cornerstone would be rejected?

    • Matthew 21:31-32 - Had they not read about the resurrection of the dead? God is the God of the living, not the dead.

  • Luke 13:32-33 - Jesu was warned to leave Jerusalem since Herod wanted to kill Him. He replied that he would carry on doing what He was doing because surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem. He thus reminded them of the nations propensity for killing prophets of God right in the city of God.

  • John 10:31-32 - When Jesus claimed that the Father and He were one, the Jews were insensed and picked up stones to stone Him. Jesus pointed to His good works that came from the Father asn asked for which of those good works they were stoning Him.

Jesus' teaching


Jesus described


Followers of Jesus

  • Colossians 4:6 - our conversation is to be always gracious, seasoned with salt. Might sarcasm be an example of being seasoned with salt? See the note below, in the commentary.

Commentary

Sarcasm is both humerous and a penetrating way to reveal the truth. The crowds would have found it amusing that Jesus asked if the scribes and Pharisees had read the scriptures but it also confronted those men with their lack of understanding (as if they had not even read the passages).

Jesus was sarcastic at times but it is telling that he did not teach His followers to be sarcastic. It is not a tool to be used regularly. Sarcasm is not to be used simply to hurt people. It needs to be used very carefully and sparingly but there is a place for it when it does effectively reveal the truth (e.g. about people's motives). The motive must be love. Jesusused sarcasm only when speaking to the religious leaders.

It might be an example of our conversations being always gracious but sometimes seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). Salt stings. But note the overriding principle of being always gracious.